Screw driver



June 9, 1931. s. M WADE SCREW DRIVER Filed Aug. 51, 1928 5 TEPHEN MNnuz,

I N VEN TOR.

TORNEY Patented June 9, 1931;

' UNITED STATES tsoam ATE T OFFICE STEPHEN MoWADE, F COBDEN,ONTARIO,"-GANADA SOREW DRIVER Application filed August 31, 1928. SerialNo. 303,293. 7

This invention relates to screw drivers and more particularly to aconstruction which may be manipulated to temporarily hold the screwwhile inserting or when Withdrawing the same. g

The principal object of my inventlon 1s to provide a simpleconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture and which will be easilymanipulated to hold a screw with the bit end of the screw driver engageably retained in the screw slot. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction,combination and arrangement of co-operating elements 7 as hereinaftermore specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanyingdrawings forming apart ofthe present application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a detailed plan view, parts bemg in section and parts brokenaway, to more clearly show the various relationshlp of the co-actingparts. i y

; Fig. 2 is a side plan View, part be ng broken away, showing therelative position of the various co-acting parts when retainlng a screwin the spring jaws. v

Fig. 3 is a side plan view, part be ng broken away, showing the relativeposltion of the various co acting parts when the spr1ng aws are spreadto release their gripping engagement on the screw.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line t4: of Fig. 1, looking inthe directionof the V in shape will permit the flat springs 17 to 85normally'lie in closecontact to the shank 5, I

. arrow. 7

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout thedifl'erent views. 5 indicates a shank member, having a squared end 6 onwhich a handle 7 issuitably retained. The opposite end of the shank isprovided with a tapered bit, ha'vingan enlarged portion 9 preferably ofrectangular shape in cross section, the corners being slightly rounded01f.

.10 is a cylindrical casing reciprocally mounted on theshank 5. One endisthreaded on its outer contour as at 11 to which is threadably engagedthe operating member 12. The outer face of this operating member 12extends inwardly at 14 to provide snug V fit jbearlng on the shank 5.When in normalp-osition, the outer face of this operating .member 12will abutthe inner end of the handle 7. Theopposite end ofthecylindrical casing10 is reamed out to provide a ta-, pered seat, thepurpose of which will hereinafter he mentioned. At diagonally oppositesides 'of this seat, I provide longitudinal grooves 16 into which ispositioned the inner ends of the flat spring jaws 17. The inner end ofthe jaws are preferably bent at right angles and abut against theshoulder formed at the inner end of their grooves 16. 18 is a plughaving a tapered outer contour adapt ed to be forced into the taperedseat and bind the inner ends of the spring jaws 17 tightly in theirrespective grooves 16, the inner endof the spring jaws engaging theinner endof the plug 18 to retain them in proper position. Theinnerc-ontour of the plug 18 is such as toprovidea snug fit overtheshankfi and act as a bearing for this end of the cylindrical casing10., The spring jaws 17 are suitably curved and are provided withinwardly directed free ends 19, which ends extend towards the bit 8 inadvance of the; enlarged portion 9. 20 is a coil spring around the shank5,'on'e end of which is bent i'nwardly and engaged in a suitable openingin so the shank as at-21, the other end being en gaged in an angularslot 22 formed on the inner end of the plug 18.

The enlarged portion 9 belng rectangular so that the :free ends 19 willengage the shank of a screw. hen the casing 10 is given a quarter turnon the shank 5, the rec tangular shaped enlarged portion will cause thespring jaws 17 to be spread apart as shown in'Fig. 3. The flat springjaws 17. lying in flat contact relationship with the flat ends of theenlarged portion 9, will ten sionally counteract the tendency ofthe'coil spring 20 to return the casing, a quarter turn,

to normal position.

V Whenit is desired to position a screw intermediate the inwardlydirected ends 19, the

thumb of the operator is pressed against the V operating member 12 topush it forward rela tive to the shank 5 and at the same time ro tate ita quarter turn. When this operation has taken place, the operating partswill he in the position as illustrated in Fig. 3, the enlarged portion 9having spread apart the spring jaws 17 suflicient distance to properlyposition the head of the screw between the inwardly directed ends 19.The same position is desirous for engaging a screw partially removedfrom its imbedded position in any material. When the screw is positionedas hereinbefore mentioned, the thumb of the operator is pressed againstthe protruding end of the operating member 12 so as to give it areversed quarter turn relative to the shank 5, which will cause theenlarged portion 9 to be positioned as in Fig. 2, iiermitting the springjaws 17 to come towards each other, the inwardly directed ends 19engaging under the head of the screw. The coil spring 20 tensions thebit 8 into the slot of the screw held by the spring jaws 17 and retainsthe head of the screw against the inwardly directed ends 19 of thespring aws 17. sup ported from the cylindrical. casing 10. hen the screwis engaged sufficient distance into the material, the operating member12 is again turned a quarter turn by the operators thumb so as torelease the jaws from their engagement of the screw head and permit theinwardly directed ends 19 to return back to normal position relative tothe shank 5 as shown in Fig. 1, which when in that position, permit thebit 8 to be used to complete the screwing in of the screw previouslystarted.

The foregoing specification and annexed drawings disclose the preferredembodiment of my invention, but it is to be understood that minorchanges may be resorted to in the commercial adaptation of my inventionwithout departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

WVhat I claim as new is:

A screw driver comprising a shank, having a handle suitably retained onone end thereof; the other end of said shank being provided with atapered hit; an enlarged portion adjacent the inner end of said bit ofrectangular form in cross section having greater dimensions in onedirection than on the transverse diameter; a cylindrical casingreciprocally and rotatally mounted on said shank; separate, removable,flat spring jaws supported from said casing; a tapered plug on saidshank adapted to retain said jaws in position relative to said casingand to act as a bearing between said casing and said shank; a recoilspring connected between said shank and said plug adapted to retain saidplug in tight position in said casing and to return said casing tonormal position relative to said shank; an operating member on saidcasing adjacent said handle for rotating said STEPHEN MCWADE.

